Yomi Sode Nigeria Once long-listed as one of MTV’s Brand New Artists, Writer and Poet, Yomi Sode has been performing for the past 10 years – balancing the fine line between both Nigerian and British cultures that can be, at times, humorous, loving, self-reflective and uncomfortable. Highlights include opening for
Tobi Abiodun Nigeria Tobi Abiodun is a poet and spoken word artist born and raised in Benin City. His poetry cuts across the personal, social and political. Tobi is a multiple Slam Champion, holding titles in major Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Abuja and Portharcourt. His short story They Say He Had
Titilope Sonuga Nigeria Titilope Sonuga is an award-winning poet, writer and performer who calls both Canada and Nigeria home. She was the winner of the 2011 Canadian Authors’ Association Emerging Writer Award for her collection Down To Earth. Her second collection Abscess was published in 2014 by Geko Publishing (South
Bash Amuneni Nigeria Bash’ Amuneni is a Nigerian poet and performer whose works explores humanity’s capacity for love. He is the author of the poetry collection There is a Lunatic in Every Town, a TEDx speaker and member of the Abuja Literary Society. An ardent believer in poetry’s capacity to
Jolyn Phillips South Africa Jolyn Phillips was born in Gansbaai, in the Western Cape. In 2016 she published Tjieng Tjang Tjerries and Other Stories (collection of short stories), which was shortlisted for the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Debut Prize for South African Literature and won the National Institute for the
Thembinkosi Qwabe South Africa Thembinkosi Blessing Qwabe is a qualified teacher (BA, HDE, BA Hons, Masters and PhD). As a widely published author, he has written and published in all genres in isiZulu. Some of his works have been and are prescribed in primary and high schools and also in
The Black Sash South Africa Shashi Simelane, commonly known as The Black Sash to her peers, is a performance poet, rapper, writer and student based in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal. She began writing poetry at a young age. However, she only started reciting to audiences at sixteen. Relatively young to the industry,
Nadra Mabrouk Egypt / United Kingdom Nadra Mabrouk is a poet from Cairo, Egypt. She is the recipient of the 2019 Brunel International African Poetry Prize and the 2019 Poets & Writers Amy Award. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the New York University Creative Writing Program, where
Mongane Wally Serote South Africa Mongane Wally Serote was born in Sophiatown, educated in Soweto and later at Columbia University. Together with Oswald Mtshali and Sipho Sepamla, he is among the most prominent South African township poets. Serote’s poems contain a strong element of political protest – he was tested
MoAfrika ‘a Mokgathi South Africa Muriel Mokgathi-Mvubu known by her pen name MoAfrika ‘a Mokgathi was born in Mamelodi and is currently based in South Africa. She is a multifaceted artist, who is a writer, author, Poet, Performer, Theatre Actress, Translator, Cultural Activist, Teaching Artist, Arts Codes Adjudicator, Band Leader,
